Hona News

Ramy Malek, the Emmys Got It Right

Ramy Malek is the current obsession of everyone, especially since he won his first Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role on Mr. Robot. When the Egyptian-American took the stage to collect his award, he gave a clearer view of what the future of television might look like. “Please tell me you’re seeing this too,” Malek joked, a reference to the hallucinations his mentally ill character experiences.

The actor started acting in 2004, but it was not until 2006 that he got his first major role as the charming Egyptian Pharaoh Ahkmenrah in the hit movie Night at the Museum. He also played the role of the Egyptian vampire in the “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2” in 2012. As for 2015, that was Malek’s lucky year when he got the lead of Elliot Alderson in the critically acclaimed USA Network television series Mr. Robot. He plays a genius computer hacker dealing with the ravages of mental illness and child abuse. He felt a deep responsibility to deliver an authentic performance. He read books and consulted a therapist who warned him that TV and film rarely get it right when it comes to mental illness. “I didn’t want my performance to suffer but more importantly, I didn’t want to feel like I was doing anyone a disservice.”

Ramy Malek is at the beginning of his sure to be very long career, and giving him an award encourages young creators to experiment with acting, writing, and directing roles that on paper seem impossible to sell. His award allows actors and networks to continue making bold choices on shows anchored by phenomenal performances of talented actors.